As a religious fundamentalist I was taught to deny science and fact. Now that I have made my exodus from religion I am free to accept science and realize that it does not undermine my belief in God. Religion is by no means an authority on spirituality, nor should we continue to allow it to be the sole arbiter on things sacred and moral. Religions are man-made institutions; human perspectives of the divine, not divine perspectives of humanity. A shift from religious fundamentalism to a focus on spirituality frees us to appreciate culture, history and science, moving us past the idea of tolerance, which most fundamentalists don’t practice anyway, to celebration and identification with all of humanity.

Gandhi said, “No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.” It has seemed impossible for religion to avoid exclusivity. For when we seek to possess God, we create an atmosphere of ignorance, hatred and fear of anything that appears different, including other religions and science. Religion teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world and draws arbitrary lines between science and truth; good and godly, so that the science is now in opposition to God and the good man is condemned to hell. Not only does this support a narrow view of God, but it locks us into a narrow view of ourselves. Spirituality is something everyone can have, and it seeks to erase the ancient battle lines between science and religion, promoting openness, appreciation, humility, and acceptance.